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Comparative Study
. 1986 Oct;323(6088):558-60.
doi: 10.1038/323558a0.

The hepatitis delta (delta) virus possesses a circular RNA

A Kos, R Dijkema, A C Arnberg, P H van der Meide, H Schellekens
Comparative Study

The hepatitis delta (delta) virus possesses a circular RNA

A Kos et al. Nature. 1986 Oct.

Abstract

Hepatitis delta (delta) virus (HDV), a satellite virus of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), causes a severe form of viral hepatitis in humans. Here we present evidence based on electron microscopy and electrophoretic behaviour that HDV contains a single stranded circular RNA molecule. This is the first animal virus identified with a circular RNA genome. Circular RNAs have only been found in plant viruses. We have obtained a partial complementary DNA clone representing approximately 25% of the total genome of HDV. Analysis of this cDNA revealed similarity to two plant viruses that may explain the origin of the virus.

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